Are you interested in the natural world and art? Well, look no further. Natural Pigments in the Modern World is a studio-focused ESPM DeCal that will take students through the historical use of natural pigments through the lens of art history and humankind. Learn about pigments and make your own!

This class is very hands-on and you will need to be very dedicated to safely crushing rocks, sifting rocks, mixing mediums, and making art using the mediums you wish to explore. There are a two projects and one presentation. A 30-60 minute lecture usually begins most classes, followed by a one hour studio session. Depending on your productivity during class, you may have to use outside time during OH to crush pigments, sift, or create mediums. OH are also a good time to experiment with methods using natural and/or synthetic pigments.

It’s important to be aware of the materials you use and the kinds of processes it takes to develop them through industrial machinery and labor. Taking into consideration the history behind art pigments, you can start to register the larger impact of the mass-production of art commodities and the waste and hazards associated with them on the environment.

The industrial production of synthetic and natural pigment-based paints on a massive scale can lead to air pollution because of powered machines; however, it does not stop there. There are many pollutants associated with synthetic paint processing and disposal. Along with direct impact, the waste of materials due to their mass-production and ease-of-availability often leads to wasted product that is unused.

We hope to open your eyes to a range of natural pigment sources as a way to lessen your impact on the environment (and yourself) as an artist in a mass-produced ready-to-use art supply market. We are also here to open your thoughts to current situations regarding the price put on pigments and how that affects the market and its consumers—ultimately affecting the environment during extractions and productions.

Priority will be given to students based on application submission and appearance on the first day/infosession to confirm their desire for the course. The class has a limit of 20 students: 16 first-applied, first-served and 4 reserved seats. Reserved seats are for graduating seniors in order for them to get the most of their final semester. In the event that it doesn’t apply, the remaining reserved seats are first-applied, first-served.